The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 538
CH. 7 AL-A'RĀF PT. 8 وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لا And for every people there. 35 يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ remain is a term, and when their term is come, they cannot behind a single moment, nor can they get ahead of it. 935 Messengers come to you from يبَنِي أَدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ O children of Adam, if. 36 يَقُضُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ التِي فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ among yourselves, rehearsing فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ My Signs unto you, then whoso shall fear God and do good deeds, on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. 936 "10:50; 15:6; 16:62; 35:46. b2:39; 20:124. 935. Important Words: get ahead) is derived from يستقدمون i. e. he preceded; or he came before; or he headed (someone else). means, he preceded the استقدم القوم people, or he went ahead of the people, or he went before them (Lane & Aqrab). As one who gets ahead of a thing virtually leaves it behind, therefore, the idea inget ahead) is that of escaping. (remain behind) is derived from They say i. e. he remained behind the people. also means, he or it was put behind or put off or delayed (Lane & Aqrab). As one who remains behind a thing virtually puts the thing off, therefore, the idea in (remain behind) is that of putting off. رون Commentary: The verse means that when the time fixed for the punishment of a people comes, it cannot be averted. 978 Disbelievers, who have incurred it, can neither escape it nor put it off by a single moment. 936. Commentary: The point is worthy of special note that, like some previous verses (e. g. 7:27, 28 & 32), the address in the words, O children of Adam, is here made to the people of the Holy Prophet's time and to the generations that are yet to be born and not to the people who lived in the distant past and followed Adam immediately. This form of address has been employed with a view to introducing an important subject which was to be conveyed to future generations of mankind. This is to the effect that Messengers of God will continue to appear as long as the children of Adam live upon this earth and that the opposition of the Holy Prophet's enemies would not bring about his downfall nor the cessation of prophethood. The great promise